Why Do You Want to be a Nurse?

This might seem like a nit-picky question but in job interviews what is the best response to “So why did you want to be a nurse”? I find this question to be a frustrating one because I’m not applying to nursing school. I’m already a nurse. My response has been “Well, it’s what I decided I wanted to do when I was a teenager. I took an allied health course in high school and the career choice clicked”. Is that what they’re after? I think they should ask “Why do you want to be our nurse?” instead.

– A question by apetty21 from Tumblr

I absolutely hate that question.  I hate that question in interviews so much that I wrote another post about it called Why Nursing?

I wasn’t one of those people that knew since they were 7-years-old that nursing was their calling/destiny and nothing else would quench their professional thirst.  And when they ask that question, I feel like they are disappointed if you don’t have some inspiring story that moves them.

My walk/path to nursing was much less dramatic.  Honestly, I liked the medical field and I liked teaching.  And I didn’t want to be a teacher.. soooo… nursing made sense, right?  So I took some classes and thought it’d be cool and OMGGGGG IT’S THE BEST THING EVER!

So check out the blog post, see what you think.  After meeting people that do interviews, I think all they’re after is good old fashion honesty.  Don’t make up some flowery and emotional story if that’s not how you got to nursing.  Just tell them the truth; your thought process, your journey.  That’s what they’re after.  ”I had a practical approach to get to this career and am so glad it brought me to where I am because I cannot imagine myself doing anything else.”  BOOM.  Consider your interviewer moved and captivated.

And you’ll have to fight the urge to do this right in the middle of the interview.  

But you are right.  ”Why do you want to be a nurse?” should be a nursing school interview question and “why do you want to be a nurse for us?” should be a nursing job interview question.  Maybe they’re looking to weed out the “I’m just doing this for the money” folks.. but really, you can pick them out without asking that question.  They’re the ones that have done absolutely nothing beyond the minimal expectations in all that they do.

So captivate and move them with your honesty, it’s the only way to go!